Fort Myers readies for Edison Festival of Light festivities

Spots have been picked out for months, and chairs are set up days in advance for one of the biggest events Southwest Florida has to offer.

The food trucks, axe throwing, rock walls and crafts on the river will all be in downtown Fort Myers for the Edison Festival of Light parade kick-off party.

The Edison Festival of Light begins on Saturday, but the party starts Friday night.

The Edison Festival of Light has been part of the fabric of Fort Myers for 85 years. It’s a part of Rita Davis’ fabric too.

“I started going as a young person with my mom. And now I bring my own children. And this is the first year that my husband and I will be going just as adults to enjoy it,” said Davis.

Ted Fitzgeorge has been on the board of directors for the festival for 25 years. “I keep trying to get away, and it just doesn’t work. They keep us. It’s like, what did they say in the godfather, ‘you think you’re out, and they just keep pulling you back in’. So it’s pretty exciting.”

The kickoff party Friday night is just a warm up for locals.

For the business owners, it is part of the tradition. “You can see people already showing up people marking their spots where they want to be along the parade route every year. It’s kind of it’s a tradition in Fort Myers,” said Nils Richter, managing partner of six downtown restaurants.

They are excited for the extra traffic, especially after the hurricane.

“It was just amazing to watch neighbors helping neighbors and people on boats in roads growing down the street in a boat rescuing people out of their houses. Those are the people that we’re honoring,” said Fitzgeorge.

“All the lights, the fireworks, it’s sometimes it’s cold. So it just feels like an event you wait all day for to happen in the nighttime makes it extra special.” said Davis.

“We need this,” said Kim Gaide, who has lived near parade route for 33 years.

The iconic parade returning nearly five months after the hurricane.

“This year, it seems to be more special, just because of the hurricane. We feel like people need an out, something to go to. You know, this year is honoring all the hurricane heroes,” said John Taylor, parade official and board of directors member for the Edison Festival of Light.

Neighbors were not sure the parade would return this year after the storm.

“This is normal. And normal, as in having the parade, seeing the people, hearing the kids yell and jump up and down and beg for candy,” said Gaide.

What makes this year different isn’t just how big the parade will be, which will have close to 200 units and floats. Neghbors enjoy the fact that it’s honoring the people who helped us get through the storm.

“They worked days before they could go home to see their family, days. They had no idea what shape their homes were going to be in,” said Gaide.

“The meteorologists, the sheriff, first responders, the lineman. They were all a big part of what went on during the hurricane,” said Taylor.

Honoring hurricane heroes is personal for Mark Chard, who is building a float for the parade.

“There’s some people out there we’ve seen that have been through a lot. And a lot of people have cried on our shoulders. They’ve lost everything. Nowhere to go,” said Chard.

His float will highlight all the phases people have experienced on their jouney toward rebuilding and the people who helped along the way.

“There’s a lot of people that were away from their family, their homes, and taking care of their own stuff that got damaged just to help others,” Chard said.

The Edison Festival of Light begins with a kickoff event on Friday at 5 p.m. The Grand Parade will take place on Saturday from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. WINK meteorologists are honorary grand marshals.

You can find a full list of events from the Festival of Light by clicking here.